Chuck Sweeny: No minced words from Jim Sacia on pot bill

Say this about Jim Sacia, the state representative who represents Pecatonica, Freeport and the territory west to the Big Muddy: He’s not politically correct and he talks in plain English. This is rare in the land of political bafflegab.

Say this about Jim Sacia, the state representative who represents Pecatonica, Freeport and the territory west to the Big Muddy: He’s not politically correct and he talks in plain English. This is rare in the land of political bafflegab.

The Republican from Pecatonica’s plain talk was on parade again last week in the House debate over whether to legalize marijuana for a list of medical uses. Sacia railed against the bill and its sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, saying folks would easily be able to get around the limits by finding friendly doctors willing to write prescriptions. Lang urged him to read the bill.

I caught up with Sacia on Friday, and he told me that his position on marijuana “comes from my career as an FBI agent. Setting aside the fact that it is a gateway drug, what is so significant about this bill is that the FDA, according to Lou Lang, has no interest in looking at it.”

“Wait, you’re talking about making something legal that is prohibited by the federal government. It’s never been OK’d by the FDA.” He’d rather put THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in a pill or a brownie “and sell it the way you sell any prescription. Or, if you don’t think it should be a prescription drug, have the FDA sanction it.”

The way the bill is written, each state police district will have a licensed farm or garden where marijuana will be grown. (Dude, do I call the cops to order some?)

Sacia realizes he’s not in the majority — the bill passed the House with 61 votes, one more than needed. It is expected to pass the more liberal Senate and be signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn.

Still, “we’re setting ourselves up for significant abuse, especially while driving in vehicles. The ability of law enforcement to charge someone who is driving while impaired is compromised.”

The Illinois bill has the most stringent restrictions of any medical-marijuana law in the country, Sacia acknowledged, but he thinks it can still be circumvented.

“I’m 69. I’ve got a few maladies ... I bet I could convince my doctor I’m in worse shape than I really am” to get some marijuana. I asked Sacia whether he could ever support medical marijuana.

“I want the FDA to sanction it and regulate it. Then Jimmy will be on board. That’s what they do, they regulate drugs, so they should be regulating this one.”

The measure is a four-year trial program. If passed and signed, it would take effect in January 2014.

Rick Perry's visit

This is probably not the best week to say that Texas’ economy is exploding, but Gov. Rick Perry is touting his state’s pro-business climate to Illinoisans in a Texas-sized way. Check out (courtesy of rebootillinois.com) the ad that Perry is running in Chicagoland media:

“If you’re a business owner in Illinois, I want to express my admiration for your ability to survive in an environment that, intentionally or not, is designed for you to fail,” Perry begins.

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“With rising taxes and government interference on the upswing, your situation is not unlike a burning building on the verge of collapse. If you’re thinking of ‘just riding it out,’ you might want to reconsider.

“There is an escape route to economic freedom … a route to Texas. The Lone Star State has proven that limited government, low taxes and a pro-business mind-set work wonders when it comes to job creation and a robust economy. If you’re ready for a fresh start in a place that appreciates job creators like you, it’s time to check out Texas.”

Well? Are Illinois businesses open to checking out Texas to see what the state has to offer? Tell me what you think.

Rebootillinois.com also offers charts and graphs that show just how badly Illinois stacks up against surrounding states. Our pension debt is $7,518 a person, higher than all bordering states. Wisconsin’s pension debt is lowest, at $17 a person.